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Since 1970, AGM Container Controls, Inc. has led in the design and fabrication of environmental control hardware for the military, defense, aerospace, industrial and container markets.

Our facilities have the complete approval of the Army, Navy, Air Force, AEC and NASA. We have received many awards from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and major aerospace companies, including a Best Value Gold Medal from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for 10 consecutive years.

AGM’s parent company, Arizona Gear and Manufacturing, developed the first container breather valve for Hughes Aircraft Company in the 1950s. Prior to this time, the DOD used heavy, steel, reinforced cylindrical containers to ship military equipment around the country and the world. The shipping container’s robust construction was necessary to withstand the rigors of ground and air transport, as well as diurnal temperature cycling.

The introduction of AGM’s Breather Valves allowed the DOD to begin using lower weight, lower cost containers made from various materials, such as aluminum, composite, fiberglass and plastics. The breather valve allows these containers to “breathe” air in and out to compensate for the pressure and vacuum differentials created by changes in elevation during air and ground transport. These same differentials are created due to diurnal temperature cycling. The heat during the day increases the container’s internal temperature resulting in a corresponding rise in pressure. Conversely, the cooling during the night decreases the container’s internal temperature resulting in a corresponding rise in vacuum.

AGM’s Breather Valves compensate for the pressure and vacuum differentials encountered during air and ground transport and diurnal temperature cycling, thereby protecting the integrity of the container and the container’s contents. It is estimated that AGM’s Breather Valves have saved the DOD hundreds of millions of dollars in container and shipping costs over the ensuing decades following the development of the first AGM Breather Valve.

The introduction of air into a shipping container necessitates monitoring and removing the water vapor contained in that air. This is accomplished by the use of AGM’s Humidity Indicators and Desiccant/Desiccators. The combined use of Breather Valves, Humidity Indicators and Desiccant/Desiccators is referred to as a “Controlled Breathing System”.

Over the years, AGM has identified and developed new applications for our environmental control hardware. AGM’s control hardware, originally designed for DOD shipping containers, is now commonly used on the equipment stored in the DOD containers. For example, AGM specializes in the design and fabrication of custom desiccators used to protect the seekers and electro-optical equipment inside missiles and other weapon’s systems by preventing moisture contamination that can fog optics and corrode electronics. AGM’s Desiccators and Controlled Breathing Systems are used on sophisticated imaging systems, such as thermal and infrared cameras used for tracking, targeting, missile defense and counter-measure protection.

Other new industries and applications for AGM products include the use of AGM Breather Valves on the battery enclosures of electric vehicles in the automotive industry. Additionally, AGM desiccant products are used on imaging systems used in the medical industry.

AGM now offers the same superior quality and precision that has been a hallmark of our OEM products through our expanded CNC Machining Services,Rapid Prototype Production, Inspection Services, Custom Engineering and Contract Manufacturing.

AGM's full-service Machine Shop, which includes MSY and MS Turning Centers, Vertical Machining Centers, and other CNC machining equipment along with lathes, mills and grinders, can meet all your turning and milling needs. We utilize FeatureCam, along with BobCad and SolidWorks software, for programming your most complex parts. We are experienced in the machining of aluminums, steel, tool steel, stainless steel, plastics, brass and more.

AGM is also a stocking distributor of:

Packaged desiccant (DesiPak Clay, Sorb It Silica gel and Tri Sorb Molecular Sieve), bulk desiccant (silica gel, molecular sieve and activated alumina) and Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors (VpCI), also known as Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI) - these products are used to prevent moisture damage and protect and extend the life of a variety of products. Applications include industrial and electronics packaging, agricultural shipments and to prevent tarnishing of jewelry and precious metals;

Impact Recorders and Data Loggers - these recorders and loggers are used to provide a timeline of environmental conditions during transport, handling and storage of products and equipment. The resulting data, which include temperature, relative humidity, shock and vibration, can be used to design packaging that will provide adequate protection from the environments the product and equipment will experience;

Desiccant Breathers – these breathers are used to protect hygroscopic liquids and solids from moisture contamination during storage and during transfer from drums (Drum Vent Dryers) and tanks (Tank Vent Dryers). Transformer Desiccant Breathers protect the oil in the conservator tanks used to cool power transformers.

AGM has been an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company since 1988. AGM also has a quality management system that is certified to ISO9001/AS9100 to ensure the utmost quality in our processes to provide you with superior products and services. Our employee owners welcome the opportunity to provide you with superior customer service, professional engineering and R&D support, quality products, and 100% on-time delivery. We want your experience with us to be pleasant and rewarding from the time we receive your call until the time you receive our product or experience our service.

With over 40 years of experience in designing and producing quality products, AGM Container Controls offers a wide variety of solutions and services to meet the needs of multiple markets and industries. As providers of standard and custom solutions, our Product Specialists and Engineers will ensure that the solution you select is the best match for your application.

When product integrity and quality is of utmost importance, our AGM team will be your partner every step of the way.